Read Loyal Homer and Bleacher Fan‘s opinions.
It’s an age-old question in ethics – just because you can, should you? This ethical dilemma should be contemplated within the walls of ESPN. “Just because we CAN hype the crap out of a Monday Night Football, SHOULD we?” The answer is a resounding no!
In the Fall, Sports Geek changes the channel whenever ESPN starts rolling out the hype machine for the next Monday Night Football game. ESPN is relentlessly in the face of their viewers promoting Monday Night Football. First, there are those “Is it Monday yet?” and “Monday can’t come soon enough!” ads that start on Tuesday of the previous week. Then it’s PTI live from a set outside the stadium where MNF is taking place. Then it’s Sportscenter, live from inside the stadium at 6p Eastern (two and half hours before “game time”… even though the game REALLY starts at 8:47p Eastern). Then it’s one of the NFL panels, broadcasting live from the secret basement of the same stadium, and doing several break-ins during Sportscenter. (This year, with Sportscenter live all day, I’m sure ESPN will devote the entire broadcast day to the monday night game.) Then, it’s Monday Night Countdown starting during/after Sportscenter, live from Section 155, Row C, Seat 15 – with real shots of the real players really warming up – discussing more stuff no one cares about.
One of the worst things about the MNF hype from 2008 was the presence of Emmitt Smith on one of the 75 different “expert” panels (you know, the ones ESPN hides in semi-secret locations throughout the stadium). His routine destruction of the English language was well-documented by PFT. But, for some reason, ESPN didn’t take him off the air for two years, perhaps because he had proven himself as a great football player, a nice guy, a heckuva dancer. Here’s a gem from Emmitt when hyping a MNF game featuring the Dallas Cowboys and running backs Marion Barber and Felix Jones: “Marion and Felix, I’ve only got one word of advice: Don’t get hurt.” Classic.
The absolute worst thing about the ESPN hype-overload is that the games are usually terrible.
Let’s examine the last seven weeks of the 2008 season – when the games are supposed to really start meaning something. ESPN featured the following teams, in order, on their MNF schedule: San Francisco 49ers (7-9), Cleveland Browns (4-12), Green Bay Packers (6-10), Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7), Cleveland Browns again (still 4-12), and the Green Bay Packers again (still 6-10). For the final seven weeks of the season – “crunch time” by anyone’s standards – ESPN managed to feature one game, ONE, where both teams had a winning record, and something to play for.
Contrast that with arguably under-hyped NBC’s Football Night In America on Sunday nights. In their final seven weeks they featured only one team with a .500 record – the rest were well-over .500 and headed for the playoffs.
The more ESPN tries to tell us a meaningless game matters, the more they lose credibility as the WorldWide Leader.
I get that flexible scheduling gives NBC a HUGE advantage over ESPN. I also understand that ESPN has a job to do. They must advertise their games in order get good ratings. The problem with that approach is, however, that FANS ARE NOT STUPID!! If a game doesn’t feature good teams, then it just isn’t going to get ratings. Period. So all the airtime and millions of dollars ESPN spends to promote a bad game is just insulting to the fans, not effective.
My question is ESPN advertises the game to start at 8:30.After all the pregame hype why does it take to 8:47 to get the game started? What can the announcers tell us that we haven’t already heard?
Nothing! That’s a great point.
Great point!
I think the last couple years Sunday night football has been better than MNF
I agree. The quality of the games makes a huge difference.
Sunday Night Football’s “flex-scheduling” rule was the best thing they ever did!
With flex-scheduling, they only lock in the Sunday night football games for the first half of the season. During the second half, any game is up for grabs.
This allows NBC to wait and evaluate the season a little bit to pick the matchup which TRULY is the best of the week, or which matchup will have the biggest playoff implications, rather than trying to guess 10 weeks in advance. It allows them a little insurance policy that helps make sure they are putting the best game of the week in their time-slot.
The clowns at ESPN killed MNF. They are dumb and stupid. Give me Dandy Don, Howard and Frank. These idiots at ESPN are ruining the game. Bobby Gee. They try to be funny. NOT! Jaws should know better.
http://bobbygee.wordpress.com/
Nice! Honestly, I think Jaws is a good analyst. He knows a great deal about the game, studies hard, and recognizes things quickly. While he’s not an entertainer, that’s fine with me. Unfortunately, I believe ESPN is looking to fill the booth with entertainers.
ESPN’s shameless, incessant MNF self-promotion is a little like ABC’s shameless, incessant White House-based, healthcare “town hall forum,” with no advertising from the opposition.
I don’t think ESPN killed MNF…it looks like it was already in an advanced state of decline when they bought it.
Nice, topical points, Ryan. Do you believe that flex scheduling killed MNF, or ESPN? Do you think that MNF is dead?
I’m not in favor of your comment about Emmitt Smith. So what if he didn’t have perfect English. The man is a legend! He knows what he’s talkin about. I mean let’s face it, many people listening can’t speak perfect English themselves. Give the legend a break!
I totally agree he’s a legend. But if you’re going to be on TV with a supposed expert’s opinion, then you need to have the language skills to back it up. Emmitt’s quick on his feet… except when it comes to thinking and talking on live TV. That is in no way a commentary on him as a player. He was outstanding, and deserving of the records he has stacked up.
Perhaps there’s a future topic in here: What makes a better broadcaster, a knowledgeable person or a former athlete? What do you think?
Ok ok. I guess he could be better with some of his comments. He’s actually going to be in a poker tourney this fall. I hope he’s better with his poker skills than his commentary!
I’ll watch him play poker!
I’d LOVE the chance to debate “who makes a better sportscaster–a legend or a knowledgeable person.”
And I’ll start with two words: Joe Morgan.
Nice! Did you know that Sports Geek once walked in from second base to talk to a pitcher during a no hitter – IN A GAME I WAS NEVER IN????? Gotta love Joe. That was his latest gaffe/fib on air. I’ll put that debate topic on our editorial calendar. Thanks!
I think flex scheduling is great. It’s the best thing the NFL has done of late. Unfortunately, I think MNF has somewhat been a casualty of that!